Journey of faith, Exodus, pilgrims and sojourners

Journeys feature strongly in the Bible (see Path and Exile). For a person making the journey, or a group making a journey together, these journeys often have deep significance for their relationship with God. (See Big ideas: Path, way)

Abraham

One of the earliest accounts in the Bible of a major journey is that that made by Abraham in obedience to God's command, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's homeland and go to the land I will show you' (Genesis 12:1). This resulted in Abraham embarking on a nomadic existence for many years, following the commands of God.

The Exodus

Later, the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, were enslaved in Egypt, and then led out of captivity by Moses, in a journey known as the Exodus. They then wandered in the desert for forty years before they reached the Promised Land (see Big ideas: Moses).

New Testament journeys

A number of significant journeys are recounted in the New Testament, particularly surrounding the nativity story relating to the birth of Jesus.

Joseph (the carpenter) took Mary from their home in Nazareth on a journey to Bethlehem, to be registered for a census. While they were there, Mary's son, Jesus was born.

A while later, wise men journeyed from the east, led by a star, to worship the new born king and bring him gifts. They recognised the child Jesus as the king they were seeking. They were warned by God to return home by a different route to avoid danger.

Joseph was then warned by God in a dream to take Mary and the child on a journey to Egypt to escape danger.

Later in the New Testament, in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, many journeys around the area of the Mediterranean Sea are recorded, describing the journeys taken by the first disciples of Jesus, particularly Paul, as the Christianchurch grew.

Pilgrims and sojourners

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Jewish pilgrims are seen travelling to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship God there. New Testament writers also began to use the words pilgrim and the term sojourner (someone who was a temporary resident) to indicate the belief that Christians are on a journey through the world towards their true home in heaven and should live by God's standards during their short stay on earth.

Journeys of faith

Journeys of faith in literature

A famous allegory of such a journey is Pilgrim's Progress, by the seventeenth-century writer John Bunyan, who wrote it while imprisoned for his beliefs. His book describes how the central character ‘Christian' travels from his home town, where he is burdened by sin, through many dangers until he reaches the River of Death and crosses over safely into the Celestial City (Heaven).

Many other literary works, such as Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, or, in more recent times, Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, also take the form of physical journeys which reflect spiritual development and discovery.

Related topics

Other cultural references

1Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.10Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.11When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,12and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife. Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.13Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.14When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.15And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.16And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.17But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.18So Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?19Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.20And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.18And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament, drawn from writings produced from c.40-125CE, which describe the life of Jesus and the establishment of the Christian church.

In the Old Testament refers to periods when the Jews were compelled to leave their land.

The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.

In the Old Testament Abraham was called by God to search for the land God promised to him and told he would be the 'father of many nations'

Descendant of Israel (Jacob) and occupant of Israel.

In the Old Testament the land where Joseph and Jacob found sustenance in times of famine, though later Israelites were held captive and made to work as slaves for the Pharaoh.

Very important Jewish leader described in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. Moses led the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. Received the Ten Commandments form God.

1. In the Old Testament the Israelite nation's escape from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the land God had promised them.
2. The second book of the Old Testament which describes part of the journey.

The land said to be promised by God to Abraham and his descendants in the Old Testament.

A 'testament' is a covenant (binding agreement), a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people. The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible. Its name comes from the new covenant or relationship with God.

The birth of Jesus

The name given to the man believed by Christians to be the Son of God. Also given the title Christ, meaning 'anointed one' or Messiah. His life is recorded most fully in the Four Gospels.

Joseph was the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus. Joseph was visited by an angel to tell him that Mary would give birth to Jesus. He was a carpenter by trade.

The mother of Jesus. The Gospels state that Mary's pregnancy was brought about by the Holy Spirit and not through a human relationship; she is therefore known as the 'Virgin'.

The twelve disciples chosen and commissioned by Jesus to share his mission.

1. Term meaning learner or follower.
2. Used in the New Testament in particularly of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
3. Now applied more generally to all Christians.

The 'Apostle to the Gentiles' (d. c. CE 65). Paul had a major role in setting up the Early Church and is believed to be the author of several letters in the Bible.

Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.

1. Term for a worshipping community of Christians.
2. The building in which Christians traditionally meet for worship.
3. The worldwide community of Christian believers.

A 'testament' is a covenant or binding agreement and is a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people). The sacred writings of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible). These also form the first part of the Christian Bible.

1. Someone who undertakes a journey to a holy place (such as a biblical site or the shrines of the saints) to seek God's help, to give thanks or as an act of penance.
2. A Christian journeying through life towards heaven.

A sacred building used for worship. In the Bible, the Temple was the centre of Jewish worship in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, the term is also used as an image of the believer's physical body.

The city on a hill (Mt. Zion) which King David captured and made the capital of Israel. It was the site of the Temple built by Solomon and of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Today it is still a holy city for Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.

In many religions, the place where God dwells, and to which believers aspire after their death. Sometimes known as Paradise.

In literature, something that is chosen to take on a particular meaning by the writer, e.g. clouds as symbols of mutability.

1. Consisting of or relating to (the) spirit(s), rather than material or bodily form.
2. Relating to matters of the soul, faith, religion, or the supernatural.
3. A type of religious song whose roots are in the slave communities of North America.

Belief and trust in someone or something.

A non-realistic genre of literature whereby characters or episodes systematically represent a certain belief system. Interpretation of allegory can involve two or more levels of meaning.

John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress' published in the late seventeenth century tells the story of a representative figure of humankind who leaves his home and family in the City of Destruction to set off for the Celestial City of heaven.

Disobedience to the known will of God. According to Christian theology human beings have displayed a pre-disposition to sin since the Fall of Humankind.

In many religions, the place where God dwells, and to which believers aspire after their death. Sometimes known as Paradise.

Acts was written by the same author as Luke's gospel, and tells the story of the growth of the Christian church from its origins in Jerusalem to its establishment in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, concentrating mainly on the mission work of Peter and Paul.